Chapter 4: I Feel Like A Woman
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"Alright, here's where we depart," Seben said, patting Teana on the back and smiling. They were just a block away from the palace entrance. "Have fun tonight. Whatever comes up, go for it. This is the best night of your life, take advantage."
"Thank you, everyone," Teana said, turning around to look at her friends. "Thank you for all your help."
"See you in there," Ramses said, walking past her. "I'll go first. Follow in a bit."
"Just one thing, Teana," Seben said as Ramses disappeared around the corner. "When you get back, I want you to promise to me that you'll tell me everything. Promise me you'll be honest and tell me everything that happened in there."
"Of course," Teana replied, flattening the front of her dress. "You'll know everything."
"Eat as much as you can," Seben added. "I've heard stories about the food in there."
Teana took in a deep breath, then stepped out and walked down the mostly deserted street towards the palace gate. Six guards were patrolling right in front of the large metal path protector. She could feel her stomach twist slightly with nerves.
Casually, she strolled up to them, forcing a pleasant smile on her face.
"No escort?" one of the guards questioned, looking around. "Quite unusual for a lady of stature."
Great. I couldn't even get through the front door and I'm already dead. I knew this was a bad idea.
Teana smiled warmly. "No. Not today. Just me."
"Well, all the same to me. So long as you have one of two things." The guard raised his right hand up.
Teana slowly pulled a small bag from her hip pocket. She had traded out her gold coins for small diamonds at a trade shop, and it only took a handful of diamonds to equal four thousand gold debens. She handed the small sack to the guard, who took it and peered inside.
"We've had a couple people try to give us four thousand single deben gold pieces," the guard muttered, handing the sack to a guard behind him. "Can't believe some people. Take that inside."
The guard ran off and the gate slowly slid open.
"Have a wonderful night," the guard said, bowing and stepping to the side. Teana gave a small curtsy, praying she wouldn't mess it up somehow.
She passed through the gate, immediately taken by how the palace courtyard seemed to be an entirely different country from the rest of the city. There was actual flora beyond the desert, trees she had never seen before towering over everything all along the walls. People were already walking around between long tables set up across the sands, food Teana had never even dreamed of covering every inch of table surface. Servants were patrolling around carrying circular trays with goblets on them.
Before she could step out into the action, two guards approached her from either side.
"Hands up, please," one of them demanded. She complied meekly as the two of them started to run their hands all over her torso. She squirmed uncomfortably, going red, but the process was over before she knew it.
"Enjoy the party," the guard instructed, and she stepped into the thin crowd of nobles and wealth.
"Keep it together," Teana whispered to herself. "You look just like a wealthy merchant's daughter. They have no reason to think otherwise."
She slowly walked between the first two tables, stopping to grab a handful of grapes as she listened to the conversations around here.
"It's so stressful, hearing the reports of bad weather and shipwrecks to the west. I have ships out there carrying six figures worth of gold debens! It's a nightmare. If they wreck, well, I might not be at this party next year, I'll tell you that much."
"It's all about real estate right now, I'm telling you. You know how much empty desert there is outside the city? In all directions, an unthinkable amount, you can buy it up for next to nothing! As long as you can get a workforce together to build, you're basically turning sand into gold! Population numbers are rising, lifespans are getting longer, there is a high demand for houses right now. We need to move on this!"
"It's unbelievable. You know how much time and effort has to go into importing these plants? They don't grow anywhere in this country, I'll tell you that."
Teana grabbed a thin, carved wooden stick that had large hunks of meat all along the shaft and started to slowly eat off of it. Her heartrate slowed as she took the environment in, the realization that she had passed through undetected washing over her. There was nothing to be afraid of anymore.
She could hear the light, lilting sounds of music being played from somewhere in the courtyard, just barely about to make out the tune. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
She opened her eyes and took a goblet from a passing servant, immediately testing the strange liquid with her tongue. Over a couple tables, she saw Ramses talking with some of the other partygoers, instantly weaving his way into their world with what was no doubt a memorable string of lies. Not the path she was planning to take.
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"How many courses are there?" Teana whispered to herself as a series of platters, mostly empty, were pulled from the tables by rows of servants. As far as she was concerned, meals had only one course, and she was near the bursting point from all the food that was coming out.
"That was the last one."
Teana spun around and nearly jumped out of her own skin. She wasn't well versed in the culture of modern Egypt, as such knowledge did nothing to help her support her section six family, but even she knew who this was. The wild, multi-colored hair, the ornate outfit with jewels every place jewels could be kept...this was the man who was a single death away from being the most powerful man on earth. None other than the Prince of Egypt, Atem.
Her first instinct was to kneel, but that flashed away. The Prince had been walking throughout the party for the entire night so far and nobody was kneeling. She had no idea what would be considered appropriate. It would seem that nothing would suffice, and yet it seemed so very disrespectful.
Apparently, standing there in shock was enough for him. The Prince smiled.
"Of course, a dessert will be coming out soon, pudding and other things, but that won't be for awhile. Now, I'm curious, I feel like I would have remembered seeing you before, and yet I feel like we've never met, can you explain that to me?" Atem leaned in towards her.
He knows. He knows everything. I need to confess and beg for mercy.
Teana swallowed hard, returning the smile and putting her hands behind her back.
No. I promised myself I wouldn't go out on my knees.
"I'm what they, distastefully I hear, refer to as new wealth," Teana explained, making full eye contact with Atem and not wavering in the slightest. "Very new, in fact."
"Ah, spendid, I love a good success story!" Atem took a goblet from a passing servant and raised it up in the air. "Do tell."
"My father finally made a breakthrough in real estate," Teana continued. "A handful of moon cycles ago. He's not exactly the talk of the town yet, but the old man finally figured out how to make gold off of housing. It took him long enough."
"Oh, lovely," Atem said, sipping from the goblet. "Egypt always welcomes new wealth, my dear..."
"Teana," she replied, reasoning this was one time where she could let her real name slip.
"Well, Teana, wealth suits you well, you look simply lovely." Atem looked her up and down. "Whoever put together that outfit did spectacularly."
Teana felt herself going slightly red. She nodded. "Thank you."
The lies flow out of me as naturally as the air I breathe. I don't know why I was so scared. It's in my profession to be a master of bluffing others, royalty or not. In a matter of seconds I put together a believable story that can't be proven wrong, at least not within the next several days. As impressive as any great hand of cards I've won.
"Where is your father?" Atem looked around. "I'd very much like to meet him."
"And him meet you, unfortunately he's very busy and couldn't make it tonight. It's just me," Teana answered.
"Pity," Atem grunted. "Well, I suppose I should introduce myself now."
"You require no introduction," Teana said quickly. "Prince of the finest country in all the world, soon to be the most powerful man on the planet."
"That about sums it up," Atem agreed. "So, tell me about yourself while we wait for dessert."
Teana clenched her hands together behind her. Every second this conversation went on was another second where she could let something slip and wind up with her head on a chopping block.
"Not much to say," Teana replied coolly. "I spent a lot of time right on the middle rung of society as my father floundered through a series of mediocre career paths. I'd rather not talk about such a time, very much dull and unsatisfying."
"Well, how about now?" Atem put his arms out to his sides. "Enough excitement for you?"
"Oh yes," Teana answered. "They say wealth can't buy happiness, but I suspect it gets you most of the way there."
"Could you stand a little more excitement, you think?" Atem glanced around, then thrust his right hand towards Teana. She looked down at it, not moving, then looked back up to the Prince. "Take it."
Tenatively, Teana reached out with her right hand and grabbed it. Atem slowly started to walk across the courtyard, Teana flanking him.
"As a member of the royal family, I am often able to get whatever I want if I'm forward in my requests. So I'm going to be forward with you now. You've caught my eye, Teana. And I'd very much like to pull you away from the party to show you my private garden," Atem whispered.
Teana could feel some sweat bead out on the palms of her hands and her forehead.
So much for bluffing. He's taking me away from the party to have me killed without disturbing the guests. Stupid Ramses and his stupid suggestions. I knew I should have ignored him.
"B-but, the guests, don't you need to-"
"My father and mother have to entertain the guests, but I am not bound by any such social contract," Atem explained, smirking. "Please, come. It would make me very happy."
Teana took in a long breath, willing herself to stay composed. If this was to be the end, she would go out with dignity and honor.
"Very well, Prince Atem, let's see your garden." She smiled and squeezed his hand.
The two of them walked through the courtyard and past a few rows of guards down a stone path towards an empty area behind the palace.
"It takes a lot of effort, and gold, to keep a place like this going," Atem said slyly, leading her towards a large hut in the middle of the backyard. "But when you're me, such things mean nothing."
Atem grabbed the door handle and yanked it open, motioning for her to step in. She did so, letting go of his hand and taking a stiff step in.
To her surprise, and relief, the room was a literal garden, of plants and trees not of these lands. Here, the foilage was much thicker and varied when compared to outside. Hardly a place someone would choose to stage a private execution.
"It's beautiful," Teana said, walking up to one of the bushes near the entrance and letting her finger play across one of the leaves.
"Isn't it?" Atem asked rhetorically. "Not very many people get to see this. It's something of a private collection of mine."
"Well, lucky me." Teana looked over at a thick, dark brown tree near the center of the chamber. Atem came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. She twitched and spun her head around to look up at the taller Prince. Atem simply smiled and guided her towards the tree.
"You ever seen anything like this in your life?" Atem asked.
"No, I haven't," Teana admitted, letting herself be lightly pushed towards the center of the room.
"There's something very...special about you, Teana." Atem paused. "I must confess, ever since you walked through the gates, I've been watching you. I've been quite unable to take my eyes off you."
Teana tried to find a quick, witty reply, but whatever words she could think of died in her throat. They came to the tree, and Teana felt Atem applying a light pressure to her shoulders. Teana sat down on the floor, Atem joining her at her right side. Teana could hardly believe this series of events was playing out. Her face was going a dark red.
"Lost for words?" Atem asked, smirking. "Understandable. Things are different here amongst royalty. We have no long, extended courting processes. I see a woman I like, and I simply take her."
Teana managed a strangled yelp, then decided to shut her mouth until she trusted her vocal chords again.
"So, as soon as humanly possible, I'd like to meet your father. With my influence, he'll become one of the most powerful real estate moguls in Egypt."
Teana nodded mutely, putting her clenched hands in her lap.
"Can I see your feet?" Atem asked, putting his legs out in front of him and patting his thighs.
Teana sat there, eyes going wide, staring stupidly at the Prince.
"I won't hurt them or anything, I'd just like to see them. Please?" Atem patted his lap again.
Slowly, inch by inch, Teana unfurled her legs from beneath her and held them straight out so her feet were resting in his lap. Words continued to fail her, but she knew nothing good would come of denying a request from the Prince.
"I'm sorry, this must be very confusing." Atem grabbed her right foot and slowly pulled the gold slipper off of it. Teana tensed up, knuckles going white. "There's only really one way to say this. I like feet. And I want to see yours. Don't tell anyone, my father says it's degrading and embarrassing." He shrugged. "And he's usually right about these things. Don't tell him I said that."
Great. I'm dead. Dead. The one thing that could unravel my disguise, and he has it right in his lap. I'm going to be the girl who was executed because the Prince of Egypt inspected her bare feet. I knew this party was a bad idea.
He pulled both slippers off, Teana nervously clenching her toes.
"Try to relax," Atem said quietly. "I promise I'm not gonna hurt you."
Taking in a deep breath, Teana unclenched her toes, and twitched as Atem's smooth fingers started stroking the tops of her feet. Her stomach was a bundle of knots as his hands went over her soles, not even reacting to the strokes over her sensitive spots.
"You could stand to...take better care of them," Atem said slowly, rolling her toes around between his strong, long fingers. Teana nodded, not making a sound. "Hm. Some burns?" He ran over a patch of the past that had been applied earlier that day to cover it up. "What a shame."
Teana closed her eyes, waiting for the other shoe to drop, dreading what would come next.
"Accidents happen," Atem said casually. "Keep treating them and they'll go away."
In an instant, every bit of tension left Teana's body as if it was a large expulsion of breath. She was fine. More than fine. There was no reason to be worried at all. These royals would never suspect that a peasant girl could fake her way into this party. What was she so worried about.
Atem smiled up at her, then his left index nail scraped the ball of her foot. She jerked her foot back away from him, then covered her face with her hands, allowing a feeling of deep embarrassment to come over her. She giggled lightly and peeked at the prince through her fingers.
Slowly, he grabbed her right ankle, lifted her foot up, and put a soft kiss on the top of it before slipping her slipper back on. She went a further shade of red at this, but she had to admit...she really liked it. He repeated the process with her left, leaving her seated there, shocked into silence and nearly blood red in the face.
He could have said anything right then and I would have gone for it. I would have gone for anything. He could have asked for three straight days of passionate wild sex, could have asked to do disgusting and perverted things with my feet...I would have gone for it, and I would have relished it. This man had me. Every last bit of me.
My name is Teana. Peasant girl hardened by the hard experiences of life, fighting tooth and nail to make it in a man's world. And I am making a complete ass of myself in front of the Prince. And I don't even care.
"How are they?" Teana asked, regaining her voice finally.
"Take care of them and they will be fantastic," Atem said, standing up, then reaching his arm out. Teana grabbed his hand and he pulled her up.
"Thank you. I will." Teana nodded. "So..."
"Dessert?" Atem asked, pointing out towards the door to the garden. "If you'd like, I could have it delivered here and we could enjoy it together in private."
Teana blinked a few times, still flushed red and approaching a boiling point. "When you say dessert, Prince, you mean like...pudding, right?" She immediately wanted to smack herself in the face over saying something that sounded so stupid, but she settled for awkwardly smiling and waiting for Atem's response.
Atem sighed. "Yes, I think so. My father has told me that when you really like a girl, you don't have sex with her as soon as you meet her." He hesitated, looking around the garden. "He's usually right about these things."
Teana started at him in silence, trying to find the right response, again nothing coming. Atem gave a small smile.
"I know. Commoners are often...surprised at how human us royals are." Atem shrugged. "Don't tell anyone that either."
She nodded. Atem patted her on the back. "Well, the night's winding down. We should go back out to the party."
Teana took one step towards the door, then felt Atem put his hands on her back. "Wait! He's not...my father's not...always right. I mean, most is not always."
Teana just stood there, feeling Atem give her shoulder a light squeeze.
"No, he's right. It's classy, it's...sophisticated. We'll have dinner together in a few days, get to know each other better before...yes, that's the way to do things. I can meet your father, we can talk business..." He spun her around and looked right at her. "Three days?"
Teana bit her lower lip. "Oh, Atem, I'd love to, I really would...this is awful timing, I'm so sorry."
"What's wrong?" Atem asked, leaning in towards her.
"My father's going to Israel for business tomorrow. I've always wanted to visit Israel, since I was little, he's taking me. I can't be here in three days," she said, looking away and frowning.
"Oh...Teana, forget Israel. Your father won't have to leave his house unless he wants to after I'm done with his business, he doesn't have to go to...Israel," Atem looked around. "Come on, you have my word, I'll make your father the most successful man in the country, forget Israel."
"It's very important to him," Teana replied sadly. "It's more than just business, there's personal stuff too."
"Tell him to put the trip off for a moon cycle or two, and I'll send him there with a thousand man caravan if he wants." Atem looked at her unblinkingly. "Look, I'm a young man, I don't know everything about the way the world works...but I've never quite felt like this before. Maybe that doesn't mean anything, but it sure feels like it does. Don't leave me now."
"Me too," Teana said. "I've never felt like this before either, I swear, but...it's a bad time." Teana looked around furtively, selling her disappointment perfectly. "We'll see each other when I get back. Come on, you have my word, we'll see each other again when I get back."
"That could be months..." Atem trailed off sadly. "I don't know if I can wait that long-"
"Atem, please. Just let me take this trip. The time will fly, I'll be back in no time, you'll hardly know I'm gone." Teana let her eyes water slightly.
Atem grimaced. "When will you be back?"
"I-I don't know, Atem. It depends, there are so many variables-"
"Teana, I am not letting you leave until you tell me when I can see you again." Atem gripped her shoulders tightly, not to the point of pain but not too far off. "Fill in the blank, Teana. We will see each other again in blank. What's the blank?"
Teana's eyes darted around for a few seconds. "W-well...three moon cycles."
"Three moon cycles? That's nearly a hundred days, Teana, I don't know if I can last that long."
"Don't make me lie," Teana pleaded. "That's the best promise I can make. Three moon cycles, a hundred days. It's a long trip and...Ra knows what will come up once we're there."
Atem sighed heavily. "Well...the anticipation will make the experience better. Very well, three moon cycles. I'd hate to deprive you of an anticipated experience." He nodded, then forced a smile.
"We should go now." Teana turned away from the Prince.
"If I don't see you again in three moon cycles, I'll tear this country apart looking for you," Atem said warningly. "And if I don't find you then, I'll tear Israel apart. We'll meet again."
"Yes, Prince, I promise it. We will."
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Teana stood in front of the door to her hut in section six, panting heavily, drooping down to her put hands on her knees. She didn't remember eating pudding, or the royal family saying goodbye to the party guests. She remembered running all the way home, a dead sprint, for a reason that made sense to her at the time but didn't now. She felt her heart beating as rapidly as it had ever beat as she attempted to calm herself down.
Finally, she stood straight up and grabbed the handle on her door, pushing it open and stepping in.
"Oh, you're alive?"
"AACK!" Teana screeched, coming within millimeters of swinging her fist right into Ramses's face. He leaned back to avoid it casually, smiling.
"Well, then there's only one other explanation. How is the Prince in bed?" Ramses asked, smiling widely.
Teana cocked her fist back and punched Ramses right in the cheek, knocking him flat to the floor. As soon as he hit the ground, Seben jumped out from outside her line of vision and embraced her in a big hug. Awkwardly, she returned it.
"Oh, Teana, how was it?" Seben asked, squeezing her tightly. "Did you have fun?"
Teana sighed heavily, pushing her off. "This was the...craziest night of my life." She ambled over towards the middle of the room, collapsing into her cushioned chair. "Absolutely nuts."
"How was the food? The music? The entertainment? Come on, you have to give me more than that!" Seben insisted, kneeling down in front of her and bending over to take her slippers off.
"It was fantastic, all of that," Teana said. "I'll never eat that well again in my life, I can promise that, absolutely amazing, the...music, great. Oh man." She closed her eyes and sunk into the cushions.
"Ramses said he saw you and the Prince going off alone behind the palace," Seben said, looking behind her at Ramses, who was slowly gathering himself and standing back up. "What happened?"
"Oh. Yeah, that," Teana said absentmindedly. "Speaking of that, please don't touch my feet right now, it's...uh, now's not a good time for that."
Seben stood back up, staring right at her best friend. "Well? Details! You promised!"
"Yeah, I did. Okay, so..." suddenly, she looked at Ramses. "How'd you get here before me anyway? I ran the whole way home."
"I stepped out after dessert. The Pharaoh's speech, boring, no thanks, I'll pass on that one." Ramses rubbed his cheek. "And I'm fine, by the way, thanks for asking."
"Well...I did promise the truth, didn't I?" Teana shook her head. "He...well, he-"
"He took her out back and they went at each other like animals in heat," Ramses said, shaking himself off. "Come on, this isn't exactly a great mystery."
"I don't wanna get up," Teana whined. "Seben, go punch him again."
"Well, then what happened?" Seben asked, ignoring her request.
"He showed me his personal private garden." Teana closed her eyes again. "Like a literal garden, with plants."
"...and?" Seben pressed, raising an eyebrow. "Don't make me beg, Teana, tell me!"
"And...and, the garden was very beautiful and lush." Teana scratched her forehead a few times. "I know I promised, but I'd really rather take this stuff to the grave, it's...it's embarrassing!"
"You promised!" Seben pouted.
Teana sighed. "...and the Prince is a nutjob." She covered her face with her hands.
"Alright, royal gossip. Hit me with something juicy!" Ramses clapped a few times.
Teana glared at him for a few seconds, but then continued. "He...apparently he was...stalking me during the whole party, and then he finally went up to talk to me. He said he...liked me, based on what I couldn't tell you, and invited me to his private garden. He kept talking about how he liked me and...oh Ra, do I really have to tell you?"
Seben nodded sternly.
"He...played with my feet," Teana said, going red yet again, reclining back on her chair.
"I'm sorry, what?" Ramses said increduously, squinting at Teana.
"He...he likes feet, and he...he said he wanted to see my feet and he...oh Ra, I'm going to die. I was...oh Ra. He played with my feet." Teana sighed heavily.
"That's amazing." Ramses grinned.
"And..he's a...he's a big baby!" Teana looked around the room, peeking through her fingers. "He just met me tonight and he's all...I don't even know. Oh Teana, every second without your presence is like a thousand daggers through my heart! I can not bear to be without you! He's ridiculous, he didn't know I existed until tonight! What a loon!"
"He went head over heels for you?" Seben asked in shock. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. He took one look at me and...you'd think we'd been married for twenty years!" Teana looked around. "When I was going to leave he started...blathering on like an idiot. He's so...immature and whiny and overdramatic and...and..."
"And?" Ramses goaded. "And?"
"And I don't know," she sighed. "Tonight was...at the same time, the most wonderful and amazing experience I've ever had, the most painfully excruciating experince I've ever had, and the most bizarre, insane experience I've ever had, all at the same time, I can't even begin to process all the emotions I felt tonight."
"Oh, you liked it!" Ramses exclaimed, pointing at Teana. "You liked being the object of Atem's affection! You're into him!"
"Well...I mean, he's the Prince of Egypt, he's...a very powerful man, I mean, I'm not...going to find the man repulsive," Teana said defensively. "A-and, if I didn't, he could have me killed, I have to at least...you know-"
"When's the wedding?" Ramses interrupted, smiling broadly. "I'll rent the most obnoxious clothing I can for it, I promise!"
"Shut up!" Teana shouted. "You know what, he's a ...good looking guy, he's got a certain...way about him."
"Man. Teana, I knew it would take a special man to finally win your heart, but the Prince?" Ramses shook his head.
"He didn't win my heart!" Teana spat, pounding her fist on the armrest of her chair. "I'm just saying it was a...well, I...he sort of took me by surprise and I got..."
"Ooooh, Prince, please, I beg of you, come back to bed, make me feel like a woman!" Ramses said mockingly.
"Seben, please, go punch him!" Teana whined, pointing at Ramses.
"Teana and Atem sitting in a treeeee-"
"So, anyway!" Teana shouted, getting Ramses to quiet down. "He insisted that we make plans to see each other again."
"Oh wow, when?" Seben asked excitedly.
Teana shook her head. "Seben, darling, get a clue. I told every lie I could think of on the fly until he let me go. I'm lucky I got out of there, really. In case you forgot, I never should have been in that party in the first place, so it's all moot."
"Hey, if he likes you that much, anything's possible!" Seben insisted. "I mean, what'd you tell him?"
"I told him my father was a moderately successful real estate owner, new wealth, and that he was taking me on a business trip to Israel and I'd be gone for the next three months." She sighed. "He bought it. Took some time, but he bought it. He'll forget I exist in three months and it'll be like this whole thing never happened. Thank Ra."
"We can work with that!" Seben said. "Tell him the trip got cancelled."
"Seben!" Teana snapped. "Please! I'm not discussing this. My father's dead, I told the Prince he's a real estate owner. He wants to meet my dad and talk business with him. Which says nothing about the fact that he thinks I'm an upper-class girl, when I in fact live in section six. Which brings us to the most important thing, and the thing that single-handedly makes this not work discussing, which is that I am a peasant and he is a Prince!"
"He clearly likes you," Seben said. "As a Prince, he can make things happen-"
"No." Teana shook her head. "Absolutely not. Besides, he's a nut. And...the way I felt tonight, it was...I don't even know what to call it. I...I felt like a-"
"A woman," Ramses finished. "Come on, that's all it is. You just don't know it, because you never get the chance to feel like a woman. If you really thought about it, you'd admit you enjoyed it. Flushing red, getting all hot, turning giggly and dorky...you like him and you reacted, you're just not used to it."
"Well, whatever it was, I'm done with it." Teana shook her head. "I can't have my mind taken by those thoughts, I have work to do. I'm sure Prince Atem will find himself a perfectly wonderful...princess or noblewoman and forget all about me."
"That is such an old-fashioned way of thinking," Seben muttered. "People from the lower rung of life marry into the royal family all the time!"
"Not from the bottom rung," Teana said with finality. "Look, thanks for helping me with all this, it's been a fascinating evening, but that's all it is. One evening. And I'm going to leave it at that, really."
"Hey," Ramses said, holding his arms out to his side. "At least you did something for yourself. Not just for your friends, not for other people. You did something for your own enjoyment. First time in your life, I swear."
"Hey," Teana said, standing up, walking over to Ramses. "Uh...one thing."
She stood up next to Ramses, hands clasped in front of her.
"Thank you," she said slowly. "This was your idea, and...while this night was both wonderful and awful, all at the same time...it was different. And I needed something different, and this was certainly an experience that I'll never ever duplicate."
"You're most welcome," Ramses said, bowing.
"One other thing," Teana said. She cocked her right fist back and socked him in the cheek again, knocking him to the floor before turning away and walking towards the other room.
"You guys need to have sex and get it over with," Seben joked, shaking her head.
"Good night, Seben," Teana said, retreating into the other room.